The White Crystals

re he was, so many changes of location had he gone through lately. He looked at the old-fashioned wall paper, listened to the rustling of the wind in the trees,

as the greeting,

answer

cousin was putting on. It was the sa

e're going fishing, you know, and you'll need your old du

d only to go out into the air and sunshine, to listen to the birds, and to tramp through the fields. For the first time it came to him that, eve

ked Roger. "I'd forgotten all about it, I slept

hich would stand hard usage. Then the two boys went down to breakfast, which m

Kimball, as he gulped down his second cup of coff

these woods?" inqu

Uncle Bert ef he did n't fool some un. Skunks 'n' squirrels, 'n'

e know there is b'ars in th' woods. Didn't ye run away from one las

ate of buckwheat cakes in front of Roger. "He was th'

mmented Mr. Kimball, laughing so heartily

th' chores," advised Mrs. Kimball, smiling

ishing," said Adrian. "George Bennett w

it?" asked

rian, trying to make short work of the mea

't come out here t' start right in 'n' tramp eight er ten miles, 'n' git all tired out. His mother 'n' father wants

swered the boy. "I am not sure

in Adrian, "and, say, you need n't worry, b

Roger, feeling a little nettled that his physica

n' I guess it won't hurt ye none. Look out ye don't fall in,

reful," prom

ith a bamboo pole and the necessary line, hooks, and sinkers. Then, when Adrian announced, after spading a good-sized p

path went west, twisting and turning along the highway, over the hills to Onondaga Lake, twenty miles away. This was the first glimpse Roger had of the hamlet of Cardiff, except for the ha

were scattered farms, with big, roomy, white h

of candy or some gunpowder, a loaf of bread or a salt mackerel. Then there was the blacksmith shop, in the door of which stood Sam Bennett, and, next, the grist mill, kept by Truem Wright, as jolly a chap as one would care to meet in the cou

on in town. A walk of half a mile brought the boys to the cross-road, and they went down that some distance before Adrian indicated the place where they were to cut across lots to reach the creek. Through the fields the

biously, as he wet his finger and held it up in the air to note wh

y n

th w

got to do w

e started, but I guess it shifted. There's a verse that says: 'When the wind's in the west the fish b

ter all our wo

t time, for me," added Adrian, as

he stream, which was broad and deep here, curved around from a point, and formed an eddy that had eaten quite a distance into the bank. This eddy was used as a swimming ho

quiet was apparent to him, and he moved about as slowly and as easily as he could, standing in a place Adrian had pointed out. Then he softly dropped the hook, with the

ing the strain of walking, preferred to stand. It was very quiet along the edge of the creek, screened as it was by the fringe of willows. Now and then a late-staying bird, that had not

ced his cousin's line trembling and shaking just where it ent

sin landed on the ground with a thud. He started back to where the prize lay on the grassy bank, and then he felt something give way beneath him. He seemed to be falling down, and in desperation he clutched wildly at the air. He heard Ad

boy imagined it must be three times that. He had kept hold of the pole when he fell, and he dimly knew that his hands still grasped it

nce he did not know what to do. He felt sure Roger would be drowned,

nd, with his knife, rapidly slit the laces of his shoes, as the easiest and most expeditious way of undoing them. He kicked

!" called Adrian

y floundering in the creek, he noticed that his cousin was calmly treading water

ere I come!"

He was a little out of breath. "I c-c-can get o-o-out a-al

fish pole so that A

it. The latter saw the idea at once, and, with a quick motion, he took hold of the bamboo rod, and pulled his cousin along until it was an easy matter for the boy to walk out. Roger

said Adrian, grasping Roger's hand hear

oger. "Only that's salt water, and it's easier to keep afloat in than this. I wasn't scared after the first few second

he went on. "You'd better hurry home with me, and get dry clothes on, so you won't catch cold

rot, and soon reached the road. They got there

t below us," explained Adrian. "He

or swimmin'?" he asked as he looked at Roger dripping water, and at the solitary fi

an. "Can we ride home with you, Enberry? This is my

rse, which trotted over the ground in good shape. Almost before Roger and Adrian knew it they were at the gate of their h

t clothes for dry ones; "you've got a level head on your shoulders, even if ye